Yes but usually you just attenuate. You have 0dBFS = 2Vrms at max. gain and then you can attenuate to lower level, not to higher level. Stand-alone preamp often has gain up to something like 12dB which is added into the chain.
Fairy nuff. When I finally get the miniDSP hooked up I'm aiming for 0dBFS to be a gnatfart from clipping. I spent too many years only being able to use the first 90 degrees of the volume pot to want gain after my DAC.
I should run this test when I get time to prove to myself I don't need an external ADC to the miniDSP as a priority https://www.neurochrome.com/minidsp-4x10-hd/ . As I have said before, I wish more people did (or could do) the multitone test as to me at least it gives a great ready reckoner. for analog in and out all the hash is in the room noise at my normal listening levels
I should run this test when I get time to prove to myself I don't need an external ADC to the miniDSP as a priority https://www.neurochrome.com/minidsp-4x10-hd/ . As I have said before, I wish more people did (or could do) the multitone test as to me at least it gives a great ready reckoner. for analog in and out all the hash is in the room noise at my normal listening levels
A new day and a new line of attack. I realise (more so in these tests than in any other previous ones) that my laptop playback is not up to the mark for differentiating these and unfortunately my main system source (Marantz Pearl-Lite SA-CD) will not play the files (on a USB stick) in their native form.
I've converted all to MP3/320kbs so as to use the DAC in the Marantz. I'm now hearing things that were totally masked via the laptop playback and Foobar tests. The kind of signature I would have attributed to the 1458 I feel I can now detect. There is another one with seemingly similar traits in there as well.
Is it real or an artefact of the MP3 conversion. I think its real because its not subtle and buried in the depths. There is one line of the vocals that really seemed to show this up.
I'll have another listen later and see if the results tally.
I've converted all to MP3/320kbs so as to use the DAC in the Marantz. I'm now hearing things that were totally masked via the laptop playback and Foobar tests. The kind of signature I would have attributed to the 1458 I feel I can now detect. There is another one with seemingly similar traits in there as well.
Is it real
or an artefact of the MP3 conversion. I think its real because its not subtle and buried in the depths. There is one line of the vocals that really seemed to show this up. I'll have another listen later and see if the results tally.
Fairy nuff. When I finally get the miniDSP hooked up I'm aiming for 0dBFS to be a gnatfart from clipping. I spent too many years only being able to use the first 90 degrees of the volume pot to want gain after my DAC.
I should run this test when I get time to prove to myself I don't need an external ADC to the miniDSP as a priority https://www.neurochrome.com/minidsp-4x10-hd/ . As I have said before, I wish more people did (or could do) the multitone test as to me at least it gives a great ready reckoner. for analog in and out all the hash is in the room noise at my normal listening levels
The reason why to care about system S/N and high resolution is that low S/N and digital artifacts from poor DAC colorize the resulting sound, even if it may sound silly. I have some replies and preferences in the PM and IMO they reflect quality of the sound system used to play the files.
When I use DAC + the test circuit from this test (Alps + unity gain opamp buffer, gain 0dB, at full volume) + power amp + speakers, I can hear -100dB test file from speakers from my listening position and also the -120dB test file (both 24-bit files posted here yesterday), but the later only with my ear on midrange speaker. My speakers have about 89dB/2.83V/m. My power amp has 30dB gain and my DAC has 0dB = 2Vrms output.
I see, but what is your threshold of hearing at 1kHz?
Along with calibrating the sound system, it may also make a difference to calibrate one's ears, since, for example, I have some hearing loss (raised threshold) and tinnitus (ringing). That's one reason why have I have to think other people must be better at this type of listening than me. Certainly, a decade or two ago I was much better at it.
Understood. My current DAC uses the hated 4558s so I would not consider it up to this task, but it has made me think.Sorry for the slight off topic drift, but I feel the outcome of this test is important in the sense of reminding people where to focus funds. I could for example budget for the nice TI ADC EVM wayne recommends and a couple of dacmagics OR I could upgrade my speakers and have £400 left over for music. As the hash on the miniDSP is generally 90-100dB down, I think the latter is a better use of my money
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Understood. My current DAC uses the hated 4558s so I would not consider it up to this task, but it has made me think.Sorry for the slight off topic drift, but I feel the outcome of this test is important in the sense of reminding people where to focus funds. I could for example budget for the nice TI ADC EVM wayne recommends and a couple of dacmagics OR I could upgrade my speakers and have £400 left over for music. As the hash on the miniDSP is generally 90-100dB down, I think the latter is a better use of my money
Bill, IME this test is very easy to pass for a good system and frankly I request for the bottom to be clean. Otherwise it smears the signal.
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Pavel, that is a different result you show to the one I posted. That is DAC to ADC. Mine was ADC in DAC out (the worst case with miniDSP and in my case will only be used for vinyl where the noise floor of the ADC will be swamped).
Mark: you and I are 180 degrees apart. But wouldn't the world be boring otherwise
Mark: you and I are 180 degrees apart. But wouldn't the world be boring otherwise
Hi Bill,
please let me note that the "hash" as you said will integrate through the audio band, similarly as noise. So one cannot only look at the difference in amplitude of the single frequency vs. multitone level.
Pavel: Not sure I understand your use of 'integrate' there. I wasn't looking at the single tone test wrt the miniDSP, just that, with a real world signal and my real world listening levels, that noise is below the room noise floor and therefore not a priority to address, vs say getting a better power response from my speakers which has a real impact on the stereo illusion.
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